The youngest learners in New South Wales will benefit from additional educators, thanks to 40 scholarships awarded today to early childhood educators.
The 40 scholarships are worth up to $20,000 each, awarded under the 2020-21 Early Childhood Education Scholarships Program, making it easier for more people to commence or upgrade their qualifications to a bachelor degree in early childhood teaching.
Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning Sarah Mitchell said the scholarships would help promising preschool and early childhood employees deepen their knowledge of early education.
“Education in the first years of a child’s life is some of the most important. They develop skills crucial to success in school and later life,” Mitchell said.
“It also is an important time for the child’s health, educators and parents can pick up early signs of various conditions early.”
Mitchell added that early childhood educators are key to this and the scholarships will help some of the best become even better.
“We recognise that these scholarship recipients will deepen their understanding of early childhood environments and gain additional skills and capabilities which will be passed on to the children they teach,” she said.
“Congratulations to the scholars on their commitment to education, and I wish them every success in their studies and future careers as qualified early childhood teachers.”